Congratulating Norm Wengerd, CEO, GentleBrook, recipient of the 2025 Legacy Award for his decades of impactful contributions in the community!
Norm Wengerd has served as Chief Executive Officer of GentleBrook, Inc. since 2008, bringing more than 50 years of leadership experience in the health and human services field. His leadership has been guided by a long-standing commitment to connecting people and communities.
Norm began his career as a respiratory therapist at Mercy Medical Center in Canton, Ohio, advancing into senior leadership roles including Director of Cardio-Pulmonary Services, Vice President of Marketing and Outreach and Ambulatory Care, and later, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. During this time, he also served as Interim President and CEO at Mercy Medical Center and St. John Westshore Hospital in Cleveland. Earlier, he held the role of Vice President of Development with the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine Health System.
Norm joined GentleBrook as CEO at a pivotal moment in the organization’s history. Through steady leadership, business acumen, and long-term vision, he stabilized the organization and positioned it for sustained growth. Under his leadership, GentleBrook has tripled the number of individuals served and achieved significant revenue growth, expanding services and mission-driven businesses that benefit both those served and the broader community.
A hallmark of Norm’s tenure has been the development of innovative, community-integrated enterprises. In collaboration with the Hartville Thrift Shoppe, GentleBrook spearheaded the initiative for the purchase of the former Hartville Hardware building in 2012. Now home to the Hartville Thrift Shoppe and The Front Porch Café, this initiative created a vibrant hub for inclusive employment and community engagement in addition to providing new homes for other local non-profits like Lake Township FISH. The acquisition of GentleBrook Greenhouse + Farm, formerly Miller’s Greenhouse, further expanded opportunities for individuals with developmental disabilities while preserving a valued local business.
In 2017, GentleBrook expanded into senior care with the opening of The HomeStead of Hartville, an assisted living and memory care community. The organization continued to further grow its services, including the opening of additional intermediate care facilities in Hartville, the expansion of adult day services and programs to Holmes County, and the planned opening of The HomeStead of Coshocton in 2026.
Norm’s leadership philosophy is reflected in the CONNECT acrostic, a set of guiding principles that reads as follows:
- Challenge what is
- Optimize assets
- Network with others
- Nurture relationships
- Encourage and empower others
- Celebrate milestones along the way
- Transform what was
Throughout his career, he has also contributed to the community through select board and leadership roles in education, healthcare, faith-based, and civic organizations.
Norm has received multiple community and leadership honors, including the 2005 Community Service Individual Award from the Lake Township Chamber of Commerce, the 2013 Economic Impact Award, and the 2018 Malone University School Alumnus of the Year Award.
A longtime resident of the Hartville area, Norm lives with his wife of 53 years, Pauline (Polly). They have three children and eight grandchildren. For personal challenge and renewal, Norm enjoys backpacking and long-distance cycling, including hiking portions of the Appalachian Trail and completing multi-thousand-mile cycling expeditions across the United States and along the Rocky Mountains.
This community is better for having you be a part of it, Norm! We salute you!